Well pump



H. R.- DOWNS WELL PUMP Sept. 1 6, 1941.,l

Filed Feb. 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet@ 2 @we .J

ATTORNEY y 0, y V 4.///

3 Sheets-Sheet WELL PUMP H. R. DOWNS Filed Reb. 1e, 1940 Sept. 16, 1941.

n uw n .vldmazf ATTORNEY? INVENTOR ,CW Y m Sept. 16, 1941. H. R; DOWNS2,255,918

VWELL PUMP Filed Feb. 16, 1940 l 3 sheets-sheet 3 Bry? 1 IN1/EN TOR.7a/oldi?. aw

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PUMP Harold R.Downs, Tulsa, Okla.

Application February 16, 1940, Serial No. 319,341

8 Claims.

This'invention relates to improvements in a uid operated deep well pump,and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to means forintermittently admitting the discharge of the actuating fluid for thepump into the eduction tube of the well. This application is acontinuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 263,022,filed March 20, 1939.

In the particular embodiment shown in my co-pending application supra, abottom hole rotary pump is driven by a fluid actuated rotary motor towhich the actuating fluid, such as gas or air, is automaticallycontrolled by a metering or regulating device. The metering devicemaintains a pressure differential across the rotary motor sufficient tooperate the pump lat maximum speed regardless of any variance in pumpload. This is accomplished by the cooperation of the motor input anddischarge fluid pres sures with a plurality of 'floating pistonsregulating an input orifice. The motor discharge fluid in addition isinjected into the flow line from the rotary pump to assist-,the work ofthe pump by gas lifting the fluid load.

In the aerating or gas lifting of oil from an oil well, normally a fluidsuch as gas or air is injected in a vertical column of liquid at or nearthe base of the liquid, and at a pressure somewhat exceeding the staticpressure at the point of injection, and in suiicient volume to cause anupward movement of the fluids in the column. With the gas reachinghigher levels in the column or the eduction tub'",'a gradual expansionof lthe gas takes place to create a constantly increasing ratio of gasto oil. Injected gas under normal conditions is relatively constant, andthe speed of the gas and liquid in the eduction tube will increase untilan area of constant pressure (such as atmosphere) is reached, or thefriction of the liquid against the walls of the eduction tube willinhibit further increase in speed. Recovery of oil from Wells byaerating can be maintained pro- -vided the up-rushing and expanding gasdoes not entirely free itself from the liquid during its upward travelin the eduction tube. j

Gas introduced at the base of a column of liquid at a given pressure andthrough av definite orifice establishes a definite volume of inputgasentering the column of oil. This volume of gas at its input pressureWill raise the surface of the oil in the column, and, since the gasconstantly expands upon reaching higher levels, will extend the columnof oil by its original input volume times the ratio of expansion.

It has been found that bubbles of air or gas rising through a liquid arerequired to expend a definite amount of energy to force their way to thesurface, or conversely, a liquid in a column expends an amount of energywhen it freesvitself of entrapped air or gas bubbles by a process of theheavier gravity liquid displacing the lighter gas.

In pneumatically aerating a column of oil, the larger bubbles of gasrise quickly and the small bubbles more slowly so that in highly viscousliquids, such as crude oil, it has been found that bubbles of definitesize may be arrested. In viewV of this, air or gas injected into aneduction tube for lifting a column of liquid will expend its compressedenergy more effectively if the volume of gas enters the liquid in thegreatest number of bubbles possible. In other Words, if the gas entersthe liquid in such a manner as to create the greatest amount ofmolecular film or surface tension in the liquid with relation to itsvolume, the greatest amount of energy will be expended by the gas andthe liquid in the process of separation. It is thus apparent that in anoil well to to be produced by gas lift a thorough breaking up of the oilmass into finely divided gas and oil particles by means of turbulence oragitation will cause an infinite number of bubbles to continuouslydisplace the oil and move upward, thereby allowing the gas and oilmixture to be lifted in the eduction tube at a lower gas speed due tothe original volume of compressed. gas injected, and also to expansionof the gas. Furthermore, the greatly increased area of the frothy gasvand oil acts as an impedance to gas flow, as compared to larger bubblesof oil (of greater weight in relation to the surface area) having lessresistance to the lifting energy of the gas stream.

In a gas driven motor actuating a fluid pump of the type disclosed in myco-pending application mentioned supra, the discharge gas from theactuating motor-is'utilized to assist the pump in lifting the columnload, and thus obtain the greatest lift efficiency in producing oil froma well hole. By injecting the discharge gas of the motor into the 'fluidstream in such a manner as to thoroughly agitate and provide a foamy or`frothy gas and oil mixture, the column load is substantially lightened.However, the speed at which the discharge gas from the motor is injectedin to the eduction tube must be given con-l E sideration since the pumpwill produce a pressure head of oil at the point of injection, and' ifthe volume of gas and its speed of flow into the eduction tube is to bemaintained, a sufficient` pressure 'differential across the gas drivenmotor must be maintained. As disclosed inv my co-pending application,the constant pressure differential for the motor for any` varying pumpload is accomplished -by the iiuid regulator or metering device whereinput gas pressure is metered to the motor in relation to a dischargepressure from the motor so as to supply the necessary torque to the ro`-tary pump shaft at any load variation. The

maintaining of an unlimited higher input gas,

pressureabove the motor to meet the demands of the metering device, asto pressure differential, assists in controlling the volume and speed ofthe motor discharge gas entering the eduction tube regardless of thepressure head in the eduction tube.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to increase thelifting efficiency of 'a bottom hole pump by injecting the dischargeiiuid from a fluid motor actuating the pump into an eduction tube insuch a m'anner as to cause an infinite number of gas bubbles tocontinuously displace the pumped liquid slowly upward, due partly to theoriginal volume of gas injected, and partly to the increasing volume ofgas during its expansion in vertical travel upward in -the eductiontube.

A further object of this invention is to produce liquid from `deep wellswherein the weight j of the column of liquid is decreased by main--taining pressured gas in an intermingled or occluded state' in theliquid.

And still an additional object of this invention is to produce a streamof frothy oil-and gas from an oil well by introducing the discharge anorifice which can be alternately opened and closed so that the gas willbe intermittently injected into the column of liquid to eiiiciently foamor froth the liquid column and thus lighten the column load.

And still a further object of this invention is to efficiently gas-lifta column of oil by lightening the column load through an interminglingor hatching of pressured gas with the oil in such a manner that the gasdischarges through a multiple apertured orifice at a speed fmany timesgreater than that of the oil travel,

and at a pressure slightly in excess of the oil at the point of gasdischarge.

lAnd another object of this invention is to assist a' fluid operatedpump in lifting a column of oil from a' well hole by directing a streamof high pressured gas actuating the pump into vthe, column so that thegas contacts Vthe oil and causes it to form a frothy mixture of gas andoil before the gas loses a considerable percentage of its density orexpands to a lower pressure range.

And a further object of this invention is to produce oil from a wellhole by discharging high pressure gas into intimate contact with astream of oil being pumped in an eductionl tube to form a frothy mixtureof gas and oil presenting v the greatest "wetted area of oil, whichshall prevailfrom the bottom to the top of the eduction tube. -1 l Andanother object of this invention is to produce oil from a well hole byinjecting discharge gas from a fluid motor `actuating a uid pump intothe stream of oil being pumped so that a proper ratio of gas and oil canbe established' to deliver the gas freed by a surface separator in astate of ultimate oil saturation.

And still another" object of vthis invention is to direct a stream ofhigh pressured gas into a column of oil in such a manner as tol causefoaming'of the oil whereby continuous flow of gas through the frothy oremulsified oil will natural gasoline absorption of gas or the absorptionof lighter hydrocarbons from the oil by the gas.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description readin conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one form of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is avvertical elevational view of the invention shown supportedin the tubing of a well hole.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the pump unitshowing parts of the motor and rotary pump.

Fig. 3 is'a sectional elevational view of the unit taken at a pointbelow the motor, and showing the valve means as taken on lines 3-3 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a View taken on lines 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the outlet orifices for the gas and oiltaken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of a modified form of theunit-showing the uppermost portion of the pump housing to include aplurality of apertures.

Fig'. 'l is a view similarto Fig. 3 showing a modied form ofconstruction with the valve unit omitted.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2.and 3, the pump unit is shown disposed in a well hole provided with acasing 2 and a string of tubing 4. 'The lowermost section-of the tubing4 is of special construction having an enlarged portion 6 formed at itslower end with an annular projection 8 for receiving an annular ring orgasket lll upon which the pump, cylinder or housing l2 is supported. Thepump mechanism proper is contained within the housing I2 and comprisesthree units, a control regulator or metering device (not shown), theiiuid driven rotaryv motory and the pump unit proper, which aredescribed in detail in my co-pending application mentioned supra,

The uppermost 'portion of the pump housing l2 is provided with an anchorI44 for facilitating removal of the unit from the well hole. proximityof the anchor the housing is provided with a plurality of apertures I6through which input fluid under pressure,l such as gas or air,

. is directed through tubing 4, from a source or.

supply such as a 'compressor or. the like, at the surface of the well(not shown). 'I'he fluid is directed into an inner cylinder I8 welded at20 to the inner periphery of the housing I2, yhence downward into a dualchannel or conduit 22 communicating with an apertured block or manifold24 having its interior forming a conduit 26. The. block 24 is threadedto a lower manifold 28 in which is disposed a spring urged ball checkvalve 30. A cylindrical conduit 32 extends from the manifold 28 intocommunication with the regulator Vor metering device of the unit (notshown) but disclosed in my co-pending applicationmentioned supra.

A rotary motor is disposed below the fluid regulator and comprises avertically disposed rotat-b able shaft -34 journalled in suitablebearings 36 (the upper bearings are not shown, see Fig. 3) securedwithin the pump housing I2. The shaft 34 is provided with a plurality ofradially extending motor vanes 38 adapted to be actuated by the inputfluid as to be hereinafter set forth. As shown in Fig. 3, the motorshaft 34 is connected by a suitable coupling 40 with a exible pump shaft42, which in turn drives the pump rotor 44, moving in an eccentric pathwith a stator 46 of the pump. The pump is described in detail in mycopending application and is of a construction similar to a patentgranted to Moineau, No. 1,802,217, and the novelty of this invention isnot limited to 4this particular structure, it being understood that anysuitable type of rotary pump for displacing fluid could be utilized inlieu of the particular structure shown..

Referring to Fig. 3, the shaft 34 is shown extending through anapertured bearing block 48 disposed in the housing I2 below the motorvanes 38. Packing 50 surrounds the shaft 34 and is held in the aperturedblock by a packing nut 52. Immediately below the block 48 is a valveunit 54 secured by the pin 56 to the shaft 34 so as to be rotatedsimultaneously with the shaft as will be hereinafter set forth. 'I'lielower end of the motor shaft 34, the pump shaft 42, and the valve unit54 are disposed in a cylindrical block or housing 58 threaded at 60 and62 to sections of' the pump housing I2 so as to be arranged therein. Anuppermost portion of the housing 58 is provided with an enlargedrecessed portion 64 in which is disposed the valve unit 54. A portion 56of the inner periphery of the recess 64 acts as a. valve seat for therotary valve for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. v

A port or conduit 68 is provided inpthe block 48 and providescommunication betweenl the discharge outlet of the motor and housing 58,so that discharge gas from ,the motor is directed through the conduit68. intoj the housing 58 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

The manifold or housing 58 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced ape'rtures 1li (Fig. 4) disposed immediatelyabove the seat portion 6B, and in communication with the port 58.Preferably six apertures are provided, how-` will be hereinafter setforth.

' The valve 54 is provided with a recess or groove 16 adapted tointermittently communicate with a set of each of the ports and 12 toallow com munication of the discharge iiuid pressure from the motor withthe port 14. The operation of the valve 54 simultaneously withthe'rotation of 80 (see'Figs. l and 3) providing communication betweenthe interior 82 of the housing 58 and a space 84 between the housing 1?;and the tubing 6.` The outlet ports 80 allow discharge of oil pumpedinto the chamber 82 into the space 84.

In order to assist the lifting of the oil load in the space 84, thedischarge gas from the rotary motor is directed into the oil stream topneumatically aerate the column of oil upward. In order to direct thedischarge gas into the oil stream the conduit 14 is in communicationwith an annular channel 85 which in turn communicates with a pluralityof vertically disposed ports 88 dividing the gas into smaller bubblesand directing it to the outlet ports 88 (see Figs. 3 and 5). Displacedoil discharging through an outlet port 80 is 'immediately contacted bythe discharge gas from ports 88 so that the outlets 88 act as agitatingor` hatching chambers wherein theoil and gas is thoroughly mixed tocause a frothy mixture in the column load. The pethe shaft 34 tointermittently place the groove 16 inalignment with a set of ports '10and 12 allows the discharge iiuid from the motor to be periodicallydischarged into the port 14 for a riodical or intermittent discharge ofthe finely divided gas directed into the outlet ports provides a rapidpercussive thrust of gas pressure at a definite speed to thoroughlyagitate and froth the oil, It will be apparent that the discharge gas ismaintained at a pressure slightly higher than the oil load so as toassist in the lifting of the oil, as fully disclosed in detail in mycoso that the gas is thoroughly broken up into an -infinite number yofsmall bubbles to materially increase the lift eiiiciency by theelimination of large coalesced volumes of gas.

Operation Although it is thought that the operation will be apparentfrom the `above detailed description, a brief rsum of the operation isas follows: I

Input uid such as gas or air at a suicient pressure is dischargedthrough the apertures II. ball valve 30 and into the meteringdevice (notshown) controlling the speed and volume of the actuating fluid for themotor in a definite ratio to the torque demanded f thevmotor shaft 34 bythe pump load. The rotation ofthe motor blades 38 by the actuating fluidwith a consequent rotation of shafts 34 and 42 causes the rotor 44 tomove in an eccentric path with respect to the stator 46 of the pump. Inthis manner uid in the shot hole isdisplaced bythe pump into the area 82to be discharged through the outlet ports 8E.

The discharge gas from the rotary motor in addition to assisting thecontrol of the metering device as disclosed in my co-pendifigapplication mentioned supra Vis likewise directed into the Port 6B Wherethe simultaneous rotation of the valve 54 with shaft 34 allows a,periodic discharge of the motor discharge gas into the ports l, 86 and88. This periodic or intermittent discharging of gas throu'h the valveunit 54, as well as the breaking up of the gas 4streamby the ports 8B,imparts to the pumped oil high velocity concussions or Ivibratory shocksof nely divided gas which immediately agitates the oil to cause a frothymixture of 'gas and loil. The

Bas and oil mixture dischargingfrom the outlet ports 80 into the space04 discharges through the apertures 90 (Fig. 2) into -the space 92between the tubing 4 and the casing 2. The aperture 90 provides for afurther .breaking up of the gas and oil mixture to deliver the oil intothe eduction tube `in a condition of greatest efilciency for lifting.

In the continued operation, with an 'increase in pressure head or columnload, the unit automatically provides an increased motor dischargepressure so as to inject an increased proportion of high pressureddischarge gas into the column. and aecting an increase in speedthroughout the column vto reduce slippage or frictional resistance.Suitable packing 94 prevents discharge of the mixture into the tubing 4,while suitable packing 96 between the tubing and casing 2 blocks oi! thepumped oil from the shot hole. l

Fig.6 is a modification showing a mixing'or hatching of the dischargemotor gas and oil in the uppermost part of the unit. Itwill' beunderstood that in this modication the valve unit of the preferredembodiment is preferably eliminated and exhaust gas inthe motorcommunicates directly into the uppermost portion of the unit'. The pumphousing V|00 comprises two cylindrical sections |0| and |02 of diierentdiameters connected by anintegral portion |04. The housing |00 ispreferably disposed in spaced relation in two lowermost sections of welltubing |05 connected together by a collar |06 having a recessed portion|08. A .vertically extending cylinder ||0 issecured 'at to the collar|06 and acts as a liaiile for a purpose to be hereinafter' set forth. Acylindrical block ||2 is dis-- posed within the housing |00. A springurged ball check valve I'I4 is disposed in a recessed portion H5 of theblock ||2. *In-put iiuid for actuating the motor as shown in thepreferred embodiment isdirected through the valve H4,

a conduit ||6 provided in block |I2, into the in'. terior H0 of acylinder |20 disposed within the housing and secured in any suitablemanner to the lowermost portion of the block I I2. A floating screen |22is disposed in the u chamber |'|0 and acts to catch any debris which maybe present in the in-put` iuid.A The oating arrangement of the screen isprovided by a helical spring |24 and apertured washer |26 anchoring oneend of the screen. It -will' be understood that the lower portion of thefilter (not shown) isanchcred in a manner similar toI the upper portionsuch as the spring |24 and washer |26 in y order to provide the floatingarrangement of The spaced relationship of the block ||2 and housingportion |02 provides a chamber |24` communicating with the dischargeside of the motor (not shown) thereby providing direct passage ofdischarge fluid pressure from the motor through chamber |24 and outletports |21 arranged in the uppermost portion of block ||2. It will beapparent that the pump unit las vshown in the' preferred'embodimentldisplaces the oil through a space |20, apertures |30 providedin the cylinder |I0, hence into the chamber |02 be tween thev housingand the tubing. A floating ring |34 is disposed on the periphery of thecylindrical block ||2 above the outlet ports |21.

The ring acts as'a check' valve for 'gas discharging through ports |21..The inclined portion |04 is provided with a plurality of` apertures |36and dischargedgas pressure from the motor is directed through theapertures |36 causing a breaking up or dissemination of the gas intofinely divided particles prior to being batched, 5. or mixed, with theoil present in thechamber |32. It will be apparent that the shoulderedportion |30 of the baille agitates the oil discharging through ports |30to assist in the forming of a frothyv mixture of gas and oil.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the valve unit of the preferred 'embodiment iseliminated from the motor shaft 34a and. as in the preferred embodiment,discharge fluid pressure from the. rotary motor is directed throughports |50 into a space l5 |52 providedv by cylinder |54, hence through aplurality of apertures |56. The apertures |56 break up the gas intofinely divided 'particles 'prior toimixing with the displacedoil in,space |60. The frothy mixture is discharged through outlet ports |62into the eduction tube or tub-- Fromthe foregoing it will be apparentthat the invention establishes an increased efiiciency for a combinationpumping and gas lifting of oil from a well hole by the thorough mixingof a continuous stream of pumped oil with high pressured gas or airwhereby the oil in the eduction tube is .broken up into a minutelydivided mixture of gas and oil bubbles to aifect an increase in speed ofthe pumped mixture in the column, which in turn decreases slippage ofoil particles due to friction. Furthermore, imparting to the gas to beinjected frequency interruptions inthe form of pressure percussions. inturn imparts to the pumped oil vibrations for agitating the oil andcausing the forming of a frothy or emulsiiled gas and oil mixturewhereupon the pumpedload is materially decreased to affect the liftingefliciency, and at the same time 40 -provide fa mixture `of.gasoilsaturation so that freed gas at the top of the well is afforded thegreatest oil absorption, which is advantageous in the recovery ofliquifiable constituents from the .gas by cracking. Changes may be madein the combination and arrangement' of parts as heretofore set forth in..the specication and shown in the drawings, it being understood that anymodification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be Aa madewithin the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of the invenf tion. j

What I claim is: u l. In anl oil lifting apparatus comprising a gasdriven motor having a shaft for driving a rotary L pump, means providingcommunication between the discharge side of the-motor and theoil beingpumped, and means mounted on the motor shaft and cooperating with thecommunicating means to allow periodicthrusts of motor discharge gas intothe oil vstream to cause a frothy mixture of gas and oil. 'u

2. In a pump mechanism, a pump unit driven by a fluid actuated motor,means providing communieation between the motorA and the liquid beingpumped to allow motor discharge iluid to pneumatically displace theliquid, a valve actu-4 ated by the motor for causing periodic thrustsoi' motor discharge fluid into the liquid stream whereby the pumpedliquid i's agitated to form f a frothy mixture of gas and oil.

3.A In a pump mechanism, a pump driven by a 'fluid actuated motor, meansproviding communis cation between the discharge side of the motor andthe liquid being pumped. a valve interposed in the communicating meansand actuated by the motor for causing a. periodic ilow of motordischarge fluid into the liquid stream, and means for breaking up thedischarge pressure into finer particles andcooperating with the periodicfluid flow to cause agitation of the pumped liquid and form a frothymixture of fluid and liquid.

4. In a liquid lifting apparatus comprising a cylinder disposed in thetubing of a well hole, a rotary pump arranged in the cylinder, la fluiddriven motor disposed in the cylinder and having a'shaft for actuatingthe pump, a cylindrical housing disposed in the cylinder between themotor and the pump, a recessed valve mounted on the shaft and arrangedin the housing, communicating means between the discharge side of themotor and the valve, communicating means between the valve and theliquid to be pumped,

Cil

a plurality of ports arranged in the housing l and cooperating with therecessed valve to allow periodic discharge of motor fluid into theliquid stream. Y r

5. In a liquid lifting apparatus comprising a cylinder disposed in thetubing of a well hole, a rotary pump arranged in the cylinder, a fluiddriven motor disposedin the cylinder and having a shaft for actuating.the pump, a cylindrical housing disposed in the cylinder between themotor and the pump, a recessed valve mounted oil and gas mixture. 1

6. In a lifting apparatus-comprising a cylinder disposed in the tubingof a well hole, a rotary pump arranged in the cylinder, a fluid drivenmotor disposed inthe cylinder and having a shaft for actuating the pump,a cylindrical hous--` ing disposed in the cylinder between the motor andthe pump, a recessed'valve mounted on the shaft and arranged in thehousing, a conduit providing communication between the discharge side ofthe /motor and the valve, a second conduit providing communicationbetween the valve' ,and the liquid to be pumped, aplurality of portsarranged in the housing and cooperating with the recessed valve .forperiodically discharging the motor discharge" fluid into the liquidstream to cause agitation of the pumped liquid, a plurality of smallports formedy in the last'mentioned conduit to break up the periodicallyflowing fluid linto minutely divided particles to form a frothy mixtureof gas and oil.

'7. In a well pumping apparatus comprising a cylinder disposed in welltubing arranged in spaced relation to the casing of a well hole, a

rotary pump arranged in the cylinder,'a fluid driven motor disposed inthe cylinder for actuating the pump, means providing communicationbetween the discharge side of the motor and the liquid being pumpedwhereby discharge fluid' pressure from the motor is utilized topneumatically displace the pumped liquid, means for pe. riodicallythrusting .the discharge fluid into the liquid stream, means fordisseminating the discharge fluid into"v small bubbles prior tovinjection into the liquid stream, and means provided in the tubing 4forfurther diffusing theI mixture discharging into the casing. y

8. In a bottom hole rotary pump actuated by a fluid driven motorautomatically receivingactuating uid at a speed and volume necessary toactuate the motor for any particular torque required by the pump, meansproviding communication between the 'disharge'uid outlet of the. motorand the liquid to be pumped, means interposed in the communication means`for creating a'periodic flow of the discharge fluid of the motor intothe liquid stream, and means provided in the communicating means fordisseminating the discharge uid into smaller bubbles' prior to injectioninto the liquid to be pumped, said last mentioned means cooperating withthe periodic flow to cause agitation of the liquid to be pumped forforming a frothy mixture.

HAROLD R. DOWNS.

